Can-opener.



G. M. WHITCOMB.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED OUT 111910 1,052,297. Patented Feb. 4; 1913.

a It] W/7/7CCN/l), Q/vi/bvwoom (an we nfoz opening UNITED s'rAT as PATENT OFFICE.

GUY M. WHITCOMB, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN-OPENER.

'1 b all u' /urm it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY M. Wurrconm.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn; in the county of Essex and State of 5 Massachusetts, have invented new and useful lm rovements in Can-Openers. of which the fol owing is a specification.

The invention provides an implement particularly designed for household use for packages containing goods which are generally marketed in sheet metal cans, the implement being of peculiar formation so as to rovide ample leverage, a rest for the thum or finger when manipulating the device for opening a can. a projection for holding the part of the top of the end or other cut portion from flying upward and a retaining point to hold the blade from slipping out of the out.

A further pur se of the invention is the provision of an implement of the character aforesaid which may be constructed of sheet steel pressed and bent into required shape and while such formation is preferable it is to be understood that the implement may be formed in any manner so long as it embodies parts in the relation. herein specified and particularly defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawin hereto attached, forming a part of the app ication, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the implement. Fig. 3 .is a side view of the device. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line :v-r of Fig.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawing. by the same referencecharacters.

The implement comprises a body -1. which constitutes the handle. said body being elongated and comparatively thin and wide. and consisting of a flat strip of metal, such as steel. A blade? is formedat one end of the body 1 by folding an end portion of the strip upon itself, said blade having its opposlte edges sharpened and converging to a point 3, which is dull upon its sides but tapered to provide a point for-easily penetrating the top of the can or package to be opene The point 3 is of some length and constitutes a retainer to prevent the blade slipping from the cut made in the can or package when opening thesame. said point 35 engaging poitions of the can bordering upon Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 5, 1810 Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

Serial No. 585,631.

the cut and thereby holding the blade in position and preventing possible slipping. The tapering end of the blade 2 is deflected outwardly from the body 1 so as to conform more nearly to the side walls of a round can or package. The bent portion forming the fold betwcen the body 1 and blade 2 is cut away at its ends. as indicated at l, to provide a biting edge 5 and a space to receive theupper edge of the body of the can, the edge 5 biting into the end of the can when oscillatin the iniplcment, thereby preventing slipping. The cutaway portions 4 are outward y or forwardly converged. thereby resultin in throwing the biting edges 5 inward rom the outer edges of the blade 2 and body 1, with the result that portions of these parts form guards, which embrace opposite sides of the body of the can, there y preventing lateral movement of the implement when in operation.

A wing 6 projects laterally from the forward end of the body 1 and constitutes a rest for the thumb or finger of the hand to obtain a purchase upon which to press the implementupon the can and hold it in place. The wing or rest 6 projects outwardly from the body 1 in an opposite direction from the blade 2 and also serves as a guard to prevent jagged edges of the can or body from in uring the hand. A holder 7 projects outwardly from the blade 2 and its purpose is to engage the lid or part of the top or package when cut so as to prevent the partially separated portion from flyi upward and in uring the hand. The hd l der 7 may be provided in any manner, but it is preferred to form the same as a part of the strip from which the implement is constructed. said holder being partially cut from the blade 2 and pressed outwardly therefrom.

The implement involv.es a simple construction and is free from joints since all the parts are of integral formation and the provision of the wing 6 and projection 7 prevents injury to the hand since the part 7 holds the cut portion of the can top from flying upward and the part (3 extends over the edge of the can. thereby preventing the rough edge from comin in contact with any part of the. hand. The body 1 may be straight or slightly curved. the latter resulting in throwing the gripping portion away from the can. as will be. readily understood. lly having the blade .2 formed with two cutting edges the implement may be used by osc llating the same either forwardly or rearwardly.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is v 1. A can opener consisting of a strip of metal having an end portion tapered and folded upon itself to form a blade spaced from and lying substantially parallel with the body of the strip, both edges of the blade being sharpened, and having both ends of the fold cut away on oppositely inclined planes to form 'fulcra, and a holder located centrall of the blade and common to both edges t ereof and to the said fulera and partly cut from the blade and pressed out-1.

posit-e edges of the blade sharpened, and

having the ends of the folded portion cut away on oppositely inclined planes to form fulera, and having a portion of the blade partly cut and pressed outwardly therefrom to form a holder common to and located midway between the cutting edges of the blade and the said fulcra, said strip being further provided at one edge near its folded end with a wing projecting laterally therefrom in an opposite direction to the blade to form a finger rest.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUY M. \VHITCOMB.

\Vitncsses Jnnom: Ixouas, JAMES S. ;\E\\'lI.\LL. 

